Talk begins to break the water row in Panchana

Published: Sunday, November 25, 2007, 19:33 [IST]

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Jaipur, Nov 25 (UNI) The mahapanchayat called by the farmers living on the upstream of the Panchana dam on Gambiri river in Karouli district today decided to continue the four-day long agitation till their water share was decided by the government.

The situation in the dam area continues to be tense following the farmers living in the command area threatening to open the gates of the dam while the upstream farmers opposing it till their share of water was decided.

The matter had taken a caste dimension as majority of the farmers living in the upstream area of the dam constitute of the Gujjars, while the command areas (down stream) of the dam is dominated by the Meena community.

The farmers of the upstream villages have laid a seige of the dam area for the last four days after the farmers of the down stream areas threatened to forcefully open the gates faced by distruction of Rabi crops due to shortage of water.

Karouli district collector Naveen Jain said, ''the mahapanchayt passed off peacefully today. A decision on the opening of the gates of the dam will be taken by state government,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti Convenor Col Kirori Singh Bainsla, who was among the Gujjar leaders present at the Panchayat, said, ''the agitation will continue till a decision is taken by the government over their(upstream farmers) share of water.

The government has invited the farmers leaders for talks today and let us see what comes out of the talks,'' he said.